Chicago Blackhawks’ Samuel Savoie has successful surgery on right femur

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced left winger Samuel Savoie had successful surgery on his right femur Sunday in Minnesota.

The team expects him to make a full recovery.

During a game on Saturday, the young forward awkwardly slid into the boards after trying to stop and retrieve a puck in the offensive zone with 2:24 remaining in the second period. Savoie screamed in pain, favoring his right leg. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Before leaving the ice, Savoie acknowledged the crowd with a thumbs-up and fist-bumped into several Blackhawks and Wild players.

Savoie only received 9:00 minutes of ice time in his preseason debut before being stretchered off the ice.

Just 19, Savoie – taken 81st overall in 2022 – is coming off a career-best 26-goal, 59-point regular season run with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques. In 151 major junior contests, Savoie has 46 goals and 101 points, all with Gatineau.

Savoie’s playing style is tenacious. Described as a hardworking forward who brings a lot of energy on the ice, Savoie has already shown a bit of that during exhibition play. His skating has been considered an asset that allows the winger to get inside positioning during board battles and forecheck opposing defenders effectively.

Savoie is in the first year of his three-year entry-level contract, with a cap hit of $878,333. Once Savoie is eligible to play again, he’s expected to return to Gatineau.